Liquid delivery control



1963 J. J. MGGILLIS ETAI. 3, 7

LIQUID DELIVERY CONTROL Filed June 21, 1961 IL Ii III ' INVENTORS JOHN J McGILLlS HUGH D. McGILLlS BY 8,105 5 31 (i/(4. m

ATTORNEY 3,078,867 LIQUID DELIVERY CONTROL John J. McGillis and Hugh D. McGillis, both of 1554 Main St., Brockton, Mass. Filed June 21, 1961, Ser. No. 118,603 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-416) This invention relates to apparatus for the automatic controlling of liquid delivery from a supply to tanks and containers. More particularly, it relates to float actuated valve devices which close to shut off the delivery upon the filling of the container to a predetermined level, and then reopen to drain the delivery line between the supply and the container, whereby the line may thereafter be uncoupled without loss or spillage of the liquid.

Liquid delivery controlling devices of the type here concerned are commonly mounted through the top wall of a tank or container and in the fill pipe to which is coupled a hose run from a truck or other liquid source or supply. In the form exemplified by our prior Patent No. 2,569,110, the control devices have a pivoted valve which is moved gradually by the rise of a float with the liquid level in the container, from an initial open position in which the valve is shielded from the inflowing liquid by a baflle, to a partially closed position, in which the valve is moved out from under the baflle and into the stream of inflowing liquid whereupon the valve is driven by the liquid stream the rest of the way to its seat or closed position, in which it shuts off the flow of liquid into the tank or container. conventionally also the forcible closing of the valve elevates the float substantially above the level of the liquid within the container, and a bleed is provided through the valve to reduce the pressure on the supply line to a point at which the counter-weighted float will drop to open the valve and to rapidly drain the fill pipe of such liquid as may remain trapped therein.

It has been found that delivery controlling devices of the type described frequently actuate prematurely, before the desired liquid level has been reached in the tank or container. That is, such devices respond not only to the actual liquid level in the tank, but also to transient and false indications thereof which nonetheless suflice to move the valve to its partially closed position or out from under the baffle and into the path of the inflowing liquid by which it is then prematurely driven the balance of the way to the closed position.

The aforementioned transient and false indications of liquid lever are caused in part by deflections and turbulences of the inflowing fluid, which is found to well upwardly behind and to impinge against the open valve so as to cause that to oscillate or fluctuate and in that to swing beyond the baffle.

These false liquid level indications are caused also by disturbance of the surface of the liquid within the container by the spraying and dropping of the infiowing liquid onto the surface of the contained liquid, which may lift the valve actuating float only momentarily, but still sufficiently to move the front of the valve beyond the baffle and into engagement with the inflowing liquid, and so that the valve is again driven closed prematurely.

In addition to responding to false liquid level indications, the valves of the conventional liquid delivery controlling devices are driven by the liquid to the fully closed position extremely rapidly, so that the float-valve linkage is subjected to considerable mechanical stress, and the gasket or valve and valve seat become excessively worn after a relatively short period of use, and so, leak. Also, the very sudden, jarring closing of the valve sets up shock waves in the liquid within the delivery device and fill pipe which greatly strain the pipe, couplings, and connections.

The present invention removes the foregoing difliculties 3,078,867 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 "ice by providing an improved delivery controlling device which is responsive only to the actual and correct level of liquid within the tank, and which closes to shut off the inflowing fluid slowly and smoothly and without generating the aforementioned shock waves.

To accomplish this, means are provided in the instant apparatus for channeling and discharging the liquid from the delivery device into the tank or container at a point substantially removed from the valve actuating float and Well below the surface of the liquid 50 as to minimize ripples, waves, and other transient turbulences as could falsely or prematurely affect or move the valve into the path of and for engagement with the inflowing fluid.

The invention apparatus is also provided with means for damping the movements of the valve and for making it non-responsive to any random deflections of the inflowing liquid against the valve tending to, and non-responsive as well to such short-range, transient disturbances as may still appear at the surface of the liquid in the tank and tend to urge the valve into premature engagement with the main stream of inflowing liquid. To this end, the inflowing liquid is divided and channeled into a plurality of separate streams at least one of which flows against and engages a bottom face portion of the valve when the valve is open beyond its partially closed position and which impinges against it and in a way to resist or damp the closing movements of the valve.

Further in our improved delivery device, the aforementioned valve damping streams also cushion and soften the closing of the valve by reducing the force of the inflowing fluid as that engages the top of and drives the valve to the closed position, and by providing a liquid cushion all around the valve seat which greatly prolongs the life of the delivery device and its fittings and increases its accuracy, efliciency and reliability.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a storage tank or container, and showing in elevation a fuel delivery device mounted through the top of the container and embodying features of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the fuel delivering device of FIG. 1 and showing the flow paths-of the liquid issuing through the front and rear baffle openings with the valve open, and showing also by dotted lines the valve in the partially closed and fully closed positions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid channeling member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view in perspective of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with parts broken away and showing also the flow paths of liquid issuing through the front and rear baflle openings.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown in FIG. 1 as it may be embodied for controlled delivery of liquid into a storage tank or other container 1. The invention apparatus indicated generally at 2 is mounted through a top wall portion of container 1 and is connected at its upper end to the usual fill pipe 3.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4, the mechanism 2 comprises an elongated hollow tubular casing 4 which is exteriorly threaded at 5 for screwing into a top wall opening of tank 1 and which extends vertically downward to substantially the bottom of the tank. The casing 4 has an interiorly threaded opening 6 at its top for connecting to one end of fill pipe 3 and may also have an opening 7 in its rear wall for affording access to the interior of the casing. Where the side opening 7 is provided it will normally be closed by a suitable plate 8 and gasket 9 secured in position over the opening 7 as by bolts 10 screwed into the casing wall.

The interior of casing 4 is divided by a reduced diameter wall portion 11 into an inflow or valve chamber 12 and an outflow or exit passage 13. As best seen in FIG. 4, and for reasons as will hereinafter be apparent, wall portion 11 is shaped and positioned to form an inner edge or valve seat 14 displaced from the center of and towards the front of casing 4 and is set in from the sides of the casing for providing two relatively wide, horizontal shelf portions 15, 15, FIG. 4 between valve seat 14 and the casing wall at each side and towards the rear of the casing. A flat disk-like valve member 16 is provided within inflow chamber 12 for swinging toward and away from valve seat 14, and is connected to one end of an arm 17 the other end of which is pivotally connected at 18 to a fixed ear 19, which may conveniently and as herein be supported from plate 8 closing the access opening 7. Thus valve 16 is swingable from an open position, wherein it stands vertically out of the way at the rear side of chamber 12, to a closed position wherein it lies horizontally across chamber 12 and tightly against seat 14 for stopping or shutting off the flow of liquid from fill pipe 3 into tank 1. If desired, a gasket 20 may be provided on valve 16 for better sealing or closing of the valve against seat 14.

The bottom side of valve 16 has a depending ear 21 to which is pivotally connected at 22 one end of the usual connecting rod 23 which extends through the valve seat 14 and down into outflow passage 13. The lower of free end of rod 23 is pivotally connected at 24 to the short arm of a lever 25 which latter is supported, as on pivot 26, through the wall of casing 4 and with its somewhat longer arm extending exteriorly of the casing and terminating in the usual float 27. The pivot 26 spans a slot 28 in the wall of easing 4 of a width to accommodate lever 25 and which is elongated to permit the swinging of that lever accompanying the movement of valve 16 between its open and closed positions.

A baflle element or plate 29 is provided within casing 4 at the inflow side of valve 16 and extending to overhang and shield that from the main force of the inflowing fluid when in the fully open position. As will be clear from the drawing, the arrangement and proportioning of the parts is such that when valve 16 is swung to the intermediate or partially closed position shown in dotted line in FIG. 2, it is engaged at its top and driven by the force of the inflowing fluid to. the fully closed position also shown in dotted line, thus in opposition to and overcoming the force of gravity acting on float 27 and tending to open valve 16. The aforementioned force tending to open the valve depends largely on the relative lengths of the arms of lever 25. And preferably the exterior arm is only a little longer than the interior arm so that a relatively small inflowing liquid force will suflice to drive valve 16 to the fully closed position in opposition to the force of gravity acting on float 27.

Valve 16 also has a small hole 30 opening through it to bleed off the liquid which may be trapped in the inflow passage or chamber 12 by the valve closing, and thereby to decrease the valve-closing force of that liquid to something less than the valve-opening force of the float 27 while that is raised above the tank liquid by the same valve closing, the decrease or bleed thus resulting in the opening of valve 16 and the draining into the tank of all of the liquid remaining in and above inflow chamber 12.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for minimizing the surface turbulence caused by the delivery or discharge of the liquid into the container or tank. To that end, the casing 4 is extended as at 31 to project substantially to the bottom of the tank or container and is formed to deliver the inflowing liquid at its lower extremity. The liquid is thus discharged into the tank without any spraying or splashing of it above the surface of the contained volume, and discharged more particularly at a bottom level at which it is spaced or shielded by the full height or depth of the liquid volume from the surface level to whose turbulences the float 27 might be subject.

Also for better and smoother discharging of the liquid, the casing extension 31 is closed at its lower end by a plate or cap 32, and is laterally apertured there by one or more slots or openings 33 through which the discharged liquid is directed and distributed in smooth, lateral streams or currents which flow along or parallel to the bottom wall of container 1, and so without producing at the liquid surface the waves, ripples or other turbulences which could be generated by streams directed vertically or downwardly against and to reflect from or bounce oif the bottom wall of the tank.

Further in accordance with the invention, means are provided to make float 27 and hence valve 16 responsive only to the true level of liquid in the tank by suitably directing and channeling the liquid flowing through the apparatus itself to damp and retard and resist the closing movements of valve 16.

Said means comprise in the illustrated embodiment the bafile or plate 29 secured at the inflow side of valve 16, and shaped and adapted not only to direct the main stream of inflowing liquid B, indicted by solid shaft arrows, against the top of valve 16 when that is closed to its intermediate position in the manner of conventional delivery controlling devices as hereinbefore described, but also to channel and direct small portions or streams of the inflowing liquid C, C, indicated by broken shaft arrows, against selected bottom portions of the valve when that is open beyond, and so as to oppose its close to, said intermediate position.

Plate 29 is formed more particularly with an inwardly curved or concave, sloping front edge portion 34 leaving a front opening 35 between it and the opposite or front casing wall, and with two opposite, inwardly curving, sloping rear edge portions 36 and 37 for creating rear openings 38 and 39 respectively, FIG. 3. Under the invention and as will be clear from the drawing, openings 38 and 39 are considerably smaller than opening 35 so that most of the liquid from fill pipe 3 goes to make up the main stream B which passes through said front opening 35 at the casing 4 side away from valve pivot 18, and on into tank 1. Openings 38 and 39 are seen further to be located directly above the shelves or wall portions 15, 15 respectively and above opposite side portions of valve 16 when that is in its fully open position, and more particularly to be relatively gradually sloped at a forward portion thereof such that the smaller liquid streams C, C, which issue through the openings 38 and 39, FIGS. 2 and 4, are channeled and directed back against and for engagement with the bottom face of valve 16 at side edge portions thereof and so as to push against the valve and thereby to resist and retard its initial closing movement.

In this way the valve 16 is made relatively immune to premature closing by random liquid forces as may develop behind it in the valve chamber, FIG. 2, and by random surface turbulences as may appear in the contained liquid and tend to raise up float 27, but is still responsive to the real rise of liquid in the tank.

Still further, the directing of some of the inflowing liquid through openings 38 and 39 reduces the amount and force of liquid engaging the top of the valve when that closes to its intermediate position so that the valve is driven less forcibly and more slowly to the fully closed position. More particularly, when the valve 16 is moved to its intermediate position, the side portions thereof are pivoted out from under openings 38 and 39, and so are no longer impinged by the streams of liquid flowing through those openings. Resultantly, there is less liquid engaging and for closing valve 16 as would be the case in the absence of the herein described battle means 29. Too, the liquid streams which issue through openings 38 and 39 and which had engaged and damped valve 16 before its closing now flow unhindered and splash on and are deflected upwardly by shelves or wall portions 15, 15, under valve 16 as that approaches its seat, and across the valve seat 14 as well, thereby to provide a liquid cushion for softening and buffering the the valve closing. Thus there is provided with our delivery controlling device not only accurate and reliable response to the real liquid level of the container, but also there are minimized the aforementioned mechanical stresses and wear and shock wave eflects as formerly adversely affected such devices, their fill pipes, couplings and connections.

We claim as our invention:

1. Liquid delivery apparatus for a storage tank comprising a hollow casing mounted in the top wall of said tank and extending substantially to the bottom of said tank, said casing having a closed bottom and a side opening outlet at the bottom of the tank for directing fluid parallel to the bottom of said tank whereby to substantially reduce the surface turbulence of the fluid Within said tank, a valve pivoted within said casing for controlling said fluid passage, said valve being swingable from a fully open position through a partially closed position to a fully closed position, float means spaced substantially from said casing outlet and connected to said valve for swinging said valve between said positions, and baflle means positioned within said casing and having bevelled edges positioned and adapted to direct the main portion of said inflowing fluid so that said main fluid portion will avoid said valve so long as said valve is open beyond its said partially closed position and to direct the minor portion of said infiowing fluid against selected locations on the bottom of said valve when said valve is opened beyond its said partially closed position for damping and retarding the swinging movement of said valve to said partially closed position, said valve being driven to said fully closed position by said main fluid portion when said valve closes to said partially closed position.

2. In a liquid delivery apparatus for a tank having a casing mounted in the top Wall of said tank and for providing a fluid passage, a valve pivoted Within said casing for controlling said fluid passage and adapted for swinging movement between an open position through an intermediate position to a closed position, a float situated exteriorly of said casing and connected to said valve for swinging said valve between said positions, a baflle positioned within said casing at the inflow side of said valve for directing the inflowing fluid so that said fluid will avoid the valve so long as said valve is open beyond its said intermediate position, the improvement comprising a hollow conduit mounted integrally with said casing, said conduit having a closed bottom and a side opening outlet, the length of said conduit being related to the height of said tank such that said outlet is spaced slightly above the bottom or" said tank and is adapted to direct said fluid parallel to the bottom wall of said tank whereby to reduce the surface turbulence of the fluid within said tank, and bafiie passages for directing a small portion of the inflowing fluid against selected bottom edge portions of said valve when said valve is open beyond its said intermediate position whereby to dampen the swinging movements of said valve from said open position to said intermediate position occasioned by premature movements of said float.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,299,360 Tharp Oct. 20, 1942 2,499,409 Norway Mar. 7, 1950 2,569,110 McGillis et a1 Sept. 25, 1951 

1. LIQUID DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR A STORAGE TANK COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING MOUNTED IN THE TOP WALL OF SAID TANK AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID TANK, SAID CASING HAVING A CLOSED BOTTOM AND A SIDE OPENING OUTLET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK FOR DIRECTING FLUID PARALLEL TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID TANK WHEREBY TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE SURFACE TURBULENCE OF THE FLUID WITHIN SAID TANK, A VALVE PIVOTED WITHIN SAID CASING FOR CONTROLLING SAID FLUID PASSAGE, SAID VALVE BEING SWINGABLE FROM A FULLY OPEN POSITION THROUGH A PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION TO A FULLY CLOSED POSITION, FLOAT MEANS SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM SAID CASING OUTLET AND CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE FOR SWINGING SAID VALVE BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, AND BAFFLE MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CASING AND HAVING BEVELLED EDGES POSITIONED AND ADAPTED TO DIRECT THE MAIN PORTION OF SAID INFLOWING FLUID SO THAT SAID MAIN FLUID PORTION WILL AVOID SAID VALVE SO LONG AS SAID VALVE IS OPEN BEYOND ITS SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION AND TO DIRECT THE MINOR PORTION OF SAID INFLOWING FLUID AGAINST SELECTED LOCATIONS ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VALVE WHEN SAID VALVE IS OPENED BEYOND ITS SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION FOR DAMPING AND RETARDING THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE TO SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION, SAID VALVE BEING DRIVEN TO SAID FULLY CLOSED POSITION BY SAID MAIN FLUID PORTION WHEN SAID VALVE CLOSES TO SAID PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION. 